Saints Offense Finds Their Kryptonite In Pitcher Kyle Ruwe, Lose 3-1

ST. PAUL, MNMay 23, 2014

SAINTS OFFENSE FINDS THEIR KRYPTONITE IN PITCHER KYLE RUWE LOSE 3-1

ST. PAUL, MN (May 23, 2014) – The juggernaut that is the St. Paul Saints offense finally met its match in former Saints pitcher Kyle Ruwe who bent, but did not break over 6.0 innings of work.In the end the Saints dropped just their second game of the season losing 3-1 to the Sioux Falls Canaries on Friday night at Midway Stadium in front of 4,143.

The Saints had their opportunities against Ruwe as they got to him for nine hits in the six frames, but they couldn’t get the big hit when they needed it.The victim was Henry Wrigley, who entered play hitting .714 with runners in scoring position and two outs.In the first Wrigley came up with Brandon Tripp at second and two outs, but fouled out to end the inning.In the third he came up with first and second and two outs, but grounded out to third to end the inning.Wrigley’s best chance came in the fifth with the bases loaded and one out, but he hit into a 6-4-3 double play.In the seventh Wrigley got one more chance with runners at first and second against reliever Josh Giles, but he struck out to end the inning.

The lone run Ruwe allowed came in the fourth when the Saints had first and third and nobody out, but Joey Becker grounded into a double play, allowing the run to score, but thwarting a larger inning.Ruwe went 6.0 innings allowing one run on nine hits while walking one and striking out two.

The Canaries did just enough against Saints starter Cole Nelson getting on the board first in the third inning when Drew Muren doubled and Carlos Mendez singled him home for the 1-0 lead.

With the score tied at one in the fifth and two outs Brandon Jones and Chase Burch had back-to-back doubles, the latter scoring the go ahead run to make it 2-1.Nelson went 5.1 innings allowing two runs on eight hits while walking three and striking out three.

The Canaries tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when Kevin Dultz walked against reliever Dylan Thomas.Muren sacrificed him to second and Mendez scored him with a single to center.

Angelo Sonco continued his hot hitting as he went 3-4 and raised his average to .486 while Evan Bigley was 3-5 with two doubles.

The same two teams meet in game three of a four game series on Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.The Saints send RHP Jeff Shields (1-0, 3.18) to the mound against Canaries RHP Kyle Vazquez (0-1, 3.60).SuperAmerican Salutes the Military.The game can be heard on Club 1220 KLBB and in the ballpark on 87.9 FM.